Havana, capital of Cuba, the Caribbean metropolis that for many decades has been so little loved and so badly neglected, with breathtakingly restored beauty alongside unbelievable ruins - the queen of the Antilles in a country that lies between sun and socialism, between Rumba and Revolution!

As early as 1553, the Spanish Conquistadors chose Havana’s harbor as a rendezvous for ships that traded gold and silver in its colonies and, to protect this ‘Gateway To The New World’ from attack by looters, several forts were built, the oldest of which being the Morro Castle, 'Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro', whose construction took more than two decades.

As standards of living progressed, pirates and buccaneers came here and repeatedly destroyed parts of the growing town but each time they did so, it was rebuilt and improved. Everything in this fascinating country seems to have been restored or transformed, such as the Palacio de los Condes de Santovenia, that is now the luxurious Santa Isabel Hotel.

A city whose riches once seemed boundless, Havana now rests in sleepy magic waiting to be discovered once again.

Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.